Top 15 Albums of 2007 (Charbarred)

By: Charbarred | in: Music |

End of year lists always come with some sort of an apology planted in the beginning. There are always things you may have forgotten about, and the fear of incurring the wrath of others for not including something. So here we go, albums I actually listened to a lot this year, and will probably be listening to in the future…

15. The National – Boxer
It’s no secret that The National has been delivering consistently great album through the years. This year’s offering packs some extra punch and truly showcases what these guys have to offer.

The National - Fake Empire

Dig For Fire

14. Dig For Fire – A Tribute to The Pixies
I never thought a covers album would be such a joy to listen to. It just proves to show that if you take good artists, who actually make an effort with their music you’ll end up with a great tribute album.

Elk City - Monkey Gone to Heaven

13. Logh – North
I have a soft spot for these Swedish alt-rockers. North is a more mature album that has the band discovering their softer side, and more importantly comprises of some beautifully written songs.
[Plugg Review]
Logh - Saturday Nightmares

12. Polyethylene - What Goes on Inside Houses
An album that goes beyond verse chorus verse and really engages the listener. They don’t make ‘em like this anymore and it’s great to see that someone is still making an effort out there.
[Plugg Review]
Polyethylene - Thorman Wood Warmed Nights

11. Immaculate Machine - Immaculate Machine’s Fables
Some time all you need is good tunes, tight vocal harmonies and the ability to play well together. Immaculate Machine definitely nailed every tune on the album and the result is astounding. As I’m writing this I find myself bumping these guys up the list.

Immaculate Machine - Dear Confessor

10. Say Hi – The Wishes and the Glitch
Electronic music often misses out on delivering great emotion. In Say Hi’s case this is very far from the truth. A surprising album that will give you everything you’d expect from a more organic production.

Say Hi - Zero to Love

9. Nurses - Hangin Nothin But Our Hands Down
Can one band cover every possible genre in one album and still leave you with something you’d like to hear? Well, Nurses did it and delivered some astonishing ear candy this year.
[Plugg Review]
Nurses - And Now The Curse of Marjorie

8. Maria Taylor - Lynn Teeter Flower
Probably the most underrated album of the year. Taylor’s gorgeous fragile voice carries this album effortlessly. The song writing is spot on and tunes like Clean Getaway simply fill you with Goosebumps.

Maria Taylor - A Good Start

7. Wilco – Sky Blue Sky
I’ve always enjoyed listening to Wilco but also perceived them as not much more than a great tribute band. With Sky Blue Sky they finally managed to surpass a lot of their idols. This is a band at its most powerful. Everything about the album, songs, vocals, guitars, is where it should be. All that and all the soul you can every ask for in a modern rock album.

Wilco - Impossible Germany

6. Radiohead – In Rainbows
It’s very hard to fault Radiohead. At this stage they could be recording themselves making funny noises in a public bathroom and people would buy it. But instead they continue to release incredible albums. Not only this, they also gave the music industry a great kick in the ass this year, which would probably put them at the top of my “Greatest bands of the year” list, had I written one.
[Plugg Review]
Radiohead: Faust Arp

5. Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer
This is one of those albums that everyone claimed would be one of the best albums of the year way back in January. Everyone was right. It is.

Of Montreal - Bunny Ain’t No Kind of Rider

4. Laura Veirs – Saltbreakers
The fact that Laura Veirs is not a household name by now baffles me. Sure, she wears glasses and sings about geography at time, but her music is so incredible that I just don’t understand why someone would prefer to listen to crap like James Blunt instead. Saltbreakers, her fifth album, is another proud notch to put on her belt.
[Plugg Review]
Laura Veirs - Drink Deep

3. Apples in Stereo – New Magnetic Wonder
My first post for 2007 was to be named “The first contender for album of the year is already out”. It never happened, but it held true throughout the year. People don’t often appreciate catchy pop music, and neither have I until I came by this album. Each tune is plain perfect and with the addition of great musical doodles in between songs, one can’t help but smile every time their music comes on.

Apples in Stereo - Sunndal Song

2. Fog – Ditherer
Despite having released a few albums in the past under the name “Fog”, band leader Andrew Border considers Ditherer to be Fog’s debut album. It takes a lot of practice to get things right and this album sounds like it’s been recorded by musicians who have been around the block a couple of timse. Defying categorization, Ditherer takes the listener on a wild adventure with a bit of a rock history lesson thrown in for good measure.
[Plugg Review]
Fog – Inflatable Ape Pt. 3

1. The New Pornographers – Challengers
After years of promising albums and great song-writing A.C. Newman and co. finally delivered the perfect album. The Canadian supergroup’s fourth offering is pure enjoyment. For a change, it’s not just about flipping through the tracks to find the Neko Case tunes. The inclusion of Immaculate Machine’s Kathryn Calder is genius as she adds new layers to the already perfected vocal harmonies. The songs are meticulously put together and the arrangements that used to sound a bit patchy in past albums finally make sense. Even Destroyer’s Dan Bejar is not so overbearing this time around. It may not sound like an obvious choice for album of the year at first listen, but once you’ve taken everything in, this is a true classic.

The New Pornographers - Myriad Harbour

The New Pornographers - Challengers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHWWWa8EvzI

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Posted on December 17, 2007

Comments

9 Responses to “Top 15 Albums of 2007 (Charbarred)”

Divinyl on December 17th, 2007 7:00 am

I agree…Laura Veirs is excellent. I have to say that I preferred her older still, such as ‘The Triumphs and Travails Of Orphan Mae’, but ‘Saltbreakers’ is still a damn fine album that more people really should have heard. I went to see her live earlier this year and she was great…just her alone on stage (and supported by my friends’ band…how cool is that?). Nice to see a list that isn’t just exactly the same albums as the rest!

National on December 17th, 2007 11:46 am

The National – Boxer, i think, that this album is the best album of the year!

HMTKSteve on December 17th, 2007 11:49 am

I think someone in the bed next to you may be wondering why her album is not being mentioned

Itax on December 17th, 2007 3:36 pm

Great List Charbarred. I missed a little more then half of these releases and I will be scanning the used bin at my record store for the remainder. Which leads me to my next question. If I buy one of these albums and it sucks will you reimburse me? Also, what is a “Charbarred”? It sounds like Shakespeare with 3rd degree burns.

Charbarred on December 17th, 2007 5:32 pm

@Divinyl, glad to see I’m not the only one who thinks so
@Steve, that album you’re talking about is from 2006
@Itax, it’s less exciting than you might think. One day I was at work and had to make up a username for some forum. I just came back from lunch in a sandwich place called Charbar. Since it was the first thing that came to mind I used that as my nickname. Later on I forgot my password and signed up again as Charbarred. It became my regular username on other sites and when we started this blog I figured
a. Everyone already knows me as Charbarred
b. No one would ever read this blog anyway
c. My real name is just as obscure
Mind you, it wasn’t even much of a sandwich place to begin with…

DThompson on December 17th, 2007 6:11 pm

1) You’re named after a SANDWICH SHOP?
2) Well, there goes that article I had planned naming James Blunt artist of the year.
3) The Apples In Stereo and New Pornographers albums were great. Particularly New Pornographers.

Lynsie on December 17th, 2007 8:09 pm

So many albums so little time! I feel like you put this list together to stress me out At least I know what I can buy with my Christmas money…

kat on December 22nd, 2007 11:40 am

No.13–Logh was my winner. 8, 10 and 1 were all great too.

Elena on December 27th, 2007 2:22 pm

Hey Charbarred. Thanks for the #12 spot on your 2007 list! I just listened to all of the songs here, and you’ve convinced me to add some cds to my list of cds to buy. I guess it’s not surprising that I really like your taste in music…

Happy 2008!
Elena